Circular knitting machine



March 5,' 1940.

P. L. THURSTQN- ET AL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Filed June a, 19:59

MQIFQ INVENTORS ima ATTORNEY March 1940- l 1.. THURSTQN -r AL 2,192,625

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1939 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY WVINVENTORS March 1940. F. L. THURSTON m AL 2,5

@IBQULAR KNITTING menus Filed June a. 1939 1o sheets-sheet;

v e w |I| 2 7 BY E .5

ATTORNEY i Qx-W March 5, 1940. I P. THURSTON ET AL GIRCULAR KNITTING MACHI'NE- I 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June. 8, 1939 ATTORNEY MarchS, 1940. P. L. THURSTON ET AL 2,192,625

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 8,1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 72 v M gMWINVENTO S 104 75 7 I g imus ATTORNEY Mara! 1940- P. 1.. THURSTON ET AL 2,192,625 7 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE ATTORNEY March 1940. P. THURSTQN ET AL 7 2,192,625

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1939 :10 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTOR NEy Mar h 5, 19 0- P. L. THURSTON ET AL 2,192,625

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE- Filed June a, 1939 v 10 'Shee'ts-Shet 1o ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1940 'ilNlTED sTA'r-ss alt-2,625

2,192,625 cmcumn KNITTING MACHINE Paul L.

Thurston and Harrison F. Hilker,

Martinsburg, WV. va assignors to Interwoven Stocking Company, New Brunswick, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey 1 Application June 8, 1939, Serial No. 278,008

20 Claims.

This invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of apparatus for carrying said invention 5 into effect, the said invention being fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

The object of this invention is to produce, on a circular knitting machine, high grade plated hosiery, mainly socks and anklets from very fine and expensive yarns, in which the portion-of the leg above the heel containing the high splice, as well as the foot of the stocking between the heel and toe pockets, may be made by split work, that is to say, reciprocating knitting; Hosiery of this type is largely made on full fashioned or straight knitting machines. It is possible to produce such plated hosiery on a plain knitting machine (not split foot) capable of feeding a splicing thread, in which the portion of the leg above the heel, herein'referred to as the high splice portion, and the entire foot, as well as the leg, are knit by circular knitting. This method of knitting, however, is open to serious objections which apply particularly in the manufacture of 25 such high grade hosiery.

In the first place, the high priced yarn or yarns must be carried throughout the high splice portion and the entire sole, which adds materially of hosiery, will show through the transparent 40 front portions of the ankle and top of the foot when the sock is womf As is well known, the production of accurate plating isof'itself diflicult to secure. To do so requires that the two threads, to wit, the face thread which is to appear and form the outer face of the fabric, and the backing thread which is to appear only at and form the inner face of the fabric, must be fed to the needles at all times, so that they will be engaged by the hooks of the needles when each stitch isdrawn, in their proper relations, that is to say, both the face thread in the hook and closely adjacent to the shanks'of the needles, and the backing thread in the hook on the outer side of the face thread.

55 This positioning of the threads is usually obsplicing thread, or threads, in the high splice tained by maintaining the threads at the best angle to each otherand' placing greater tension on the face thread. It has been particularly diflicult to plate the front part of the highsplice portion and top of the foot by split work univ5 formly with the plating effect obtained in the reciprocating work.

By means of the present invention the .correct 20 and accurate feeding of the threads forming the partial courses by split work knitting at the front part of the high splice portion and over the top of the foot is uniformly secured, and the angular positions of the threads to produce the best plating are positively controlled. The high splice is knit preferably with a separate thread or threads to secure the desired reinforcement of the sock or stocking at that point, the sole is knit with a separate and heavier thread or threads without the formation-of transversely extending floats, thus avoiding the cutting operation, the waste of material, and the formation of fringes, and effecting a material saving by not carrying the expensive plating threads into the high splice and sole. The heel and toe pockets may of course'be knitted with the same thread used in the sole, or a different and heavier thread, as may be desired. By the aid of this invention, therefore, a very fine grade 'of' plated split foot 40 sock or stocking may be produced with uniform plating, extending throughout the leg, ankle and over the top of the foot, while the other portions of the stocking may be knit with, heavier and less expensive yarns to insure the necessary wearing qualities, and the entire sock or stocking can be economically manufactured.

The leading feature of the invention is the provision in a split foot lmitting machine, of separately mounted auxiliary thread feed fingers cooperating with the auxiliary knitting cam for the face thread and backing thread respectively, and connections therefrom to controlling cam mechanisms brought into operation at the proper time by the pattern mechanism of the machine, 55

proper angles respectively and under the same tensions respectively, to produce accurate and uniform plating. The control mechanisms for the auxiliary thread feed fingers will also shift them into an inoperative position within the.

cylinder during circular work, at which time a similar face thread and backing thread is delivered to the needles from a thread feed finger at the main throat. This and other features of the invention are fully set'forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated so much of a knitting machine for carrying the invention into effect as is necessary to enable the invention to be clearly understood.

In the said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a. front elevation of such a lmitting machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view, taken from the right of the machine illustrated in Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken from the left in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the auxiliary thread feed fingers and immediately connected parts.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of portions of the mech anism for securing the desired and necessary movements of the auxiliary thread feed fingers, for feeding the face and backing threads during the formation of the front part of the high splice portion and top of the foot.

Fig. 7 is a -top plan view of the auxiliary thread feed fingers and adjacent supporting and operating parts, showing them in relation to the latch ring of the knitting machine.

Fig. 7a is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the latch ring provided with two sets of auxiliary thread feed fingers, similar to those shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the auxiliary thread feed fingers and their immediate actuating mechanisms, the movement of the cylinder in one direction of its reciprocation being indicated by the arrow, for the formation of split work.

Fig. 9 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating the relative positions of the auxiliary thread feed fingers and their immediate actuating mechanisms during the movement of the cyl- 1 indr in the opposite direction of its reciprocation, indicated by the arrow, in the formation of split work.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic detail showing the normal positions of the auxiliary thread feed fingers and their immediate actuating mecha-- nisms with respect to the circular series of needles. 7

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the auxiliary thread feed fingers moved to inoperative position on the inside of the circular series of needles, tofacilitate the formation of the heel and toe pockets by reciprocating work and narrowing and widening.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of part of the knitting machine, showing a slight modification of the actuating means for the auxiliary thread feed fingers.

. fingers.

Banner machine, manufactured by the Hemphill Company of Pawtucket, R. 1, although it is to be understood that by modifications of the controlling cams and their connections, the invention may be embodied in many other types of knitting machines.v 2 represents the needle cylinder provided with independently operable needles divided into two main groups, the needles of one group being provided with short knitting butts and the needles of the other group being provided with long knitting butts, in the usual manner. The machine is also provided with a main knitting cam and an auxiliary knitting cam disposed oppositely therefrom, and the usual narrowing and widening devices for knitting the heel and toe pockets. These parts are not particularly illustrated and will not be specifically described, as they form no part of the present invention.

The machine is provided with a main throat, indicated at 3 in Fig. 7, for example, in which are located a plurality of the usual thread feed In the present instance five of these fingers are shown, and indicated at 4, 5, 6, I and 8, but any desired number may be present in the machine, the said fingers being movable independently into and out of operative position to feed a thread or threads to the needles in connection with the main knitting cam. The latch ring of the machine is indicated at 9, and is hinged to the machine frame by a pivot shaft Ill, which is extended laterally at the back of the machine at ninety degrees from the throat, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The rlng 9 is provided with an auxiliary throat I I, from which the usual thread feed fingers havebeen removed in the present instance (see particularly Fig. 5). Adjacent to the auxiliary throat II the latch ring is conveniently provided with vertically disposed brackets I 2 and I3, provided with hearing apertures in which are supported a pair of parallel shafts I4 and I5 which are capable of independent longitudinal reciprocating movement and also oscillating movement in said bearing apertures, as best shown in that figure. The shaft [4,

which is nearer to the circular series of needles,'

through an eye 22 in a plate 23 secured to the top surface of the block 2| and downwardly therefrom to a delivery eye 24.

As shown in Fig. 5, and in the diagram Fig. 8, for example, when the cylinder is moving in the direction of the arrows in these figures, the shafts direction of movement of the cylinder is reversed,

as indicated in Fig. 9, the shafts I4 and I5 will be shifted longitudinally in opposite directions, as clearly indicated in said figure, so that the face and backing threads I and b respectively will be fed at the desired and different angular positions to the needles, thus producing the same uniform plating in both directions of movement of the cylinder during reciprocating work. The

shafts I4'and. I5 extend over the transversely disposed shaft Illa, which in this instance is conveniently an extension of the pivot shaft I6 of the latch ring, and adjacent thereto each shaft l4 and I5 is provided witha pair of collars 26, 26 and 21, 21, respectively. The shaft Illa is provided with a rocking arm or bellcrank 28, loosely mounted thereon and provided at its upper end with afriction roll 29 'which extends between the collars 26, 26 of the shaft I 4. The bellcrank 28 is also provided with an aperture 36 at its lower end for the connection thereto of an actuating link, hereinafter described, by means of which the upper end of the bellcrank can be moved back andforth, thus imparting reciprocating longitudinal movement to the shaft l4 and the auxiliary thread guide 20 carried thereby. The shaft Illa is also provided on the opposite side of the finger supporting shafts I4, I5 with a similar bellcrank 3| loosely mounted thereon and having an upwardly extending arm carrying a friction roll 32 located between the collars 21, 21 of the shaft |5 for imparting reciprocating movement to the shaft I5, and the bell crank is provided with an aperture at its lower end to receive a connecting'link, as hereinafter described.

This movement of the finger carrying shafts' must obviously be very accurate and it is preferred, therefore, to provide each shaft with a spring normally holding the threadfeed finger carried thereby in one of its operative positions, and to provide a single operating meansfor reversing the positions of the two auxiliary feed fingers simultaneously, the finger carrying shaft 84 being provided with a coil spring 33 surrounding the same between the bracket I3 and a collar 35 secured to the shaft M. This spring tends to move the shaft I4 to the right in Fig. 5 and its movement in that direction is positively limited by a stop collar 3'! which engages the bracket I2. The finger carrying shaft I5 is provided with a spring 34 connected at one end to a collar 36 on the shaft I5 and at the other end to the bracket I3, tending normally to force the shaft [5 to the left in Fig. 5, the position of the auxiliary finger 25 being positively limited in that direction by a stopcollar 38 secured to the shaft l5 and engaging the bracket I3. The finger carrying shafts are actuated in opposite directions from their springs by means of a lever 39 secured to a shaft 40 mounted in a bracket bearing 4|, secured to the main frame (see Figs. 4 and '7). The free end of the lever 39 is connected by a link 42 with the lower end of the bellcrank 28, which link is preferably adjustable, and the lever 39 is connected at a point between its ends by a link 43 with the lower end of thebellcrank 3| so that as the lever 39 is raised, as hereinafter described, the lower ends of bellcranks 28 and 3| will be raised,

andas they are on the opposite sides of their common pivot shaft Illa, the upperends'of the bell cranks 28 and 3| will be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to instantly shift the shafts I4 and I5 in opposite directions, moving the thread feed fingers from the positions shown in Fig. 8, to the positions shown in Fig. 9. The link 43 is provided at its lower end with a slot 430, which engages a stud or screw on the 'lever 36.' This provides a lost motion connection to -enable the latch ring to be swung upward into its raised position, which would otherwise not be permitted. The shaft 46 to which the lever 39 is connected" is provided'with a downwardly extending inclined arm 44 carrying at its lower end a comparatively long friction roll 45, which rests upon a laterally movable cam actuated lever 46, mounted on a supporting shaft 4'! secured to the main frame in such manner that it may move sidewise bodily on said shaft, being pressed in one direction-by a coil spring 48, located between the lever 46 and a collar 49 on the shaft 41 (see Fig. 6). This lever 46 is provided at its outer end with a bifurcated portion 50, 50a (see Figs. 4 and 6), the arms 56abeing shorter than the arm 56 and each provided with a downwardly extending cam engaging portion, as shown in Fig. 4, to engage a rotary cam cylinder 5| mounted on a shaft52, rotating at the same speed as the cylinder of the machine, by sultable'connecting gearing.

This cam cylinder 5| is provided with a circular cam- 53 of uniform height, extending entirely around the cylinder, for engaging the shorter arm 58a of the lever 46, and with a laterally located inclined cam or shoulder 54, for engaging of the cam 53 at the proper time, when the lever is moved laterally, as hereinafter described. The cylinder 5| is also provided with a shorter cam 55 of such length as to correspond with the reciprocatory movements of the cylinder during split work and this cam is provided with an inclined portion at one end, indicated at 56 in Fig. 6, for leading the longer arm 56 of lever 46 to the periphery of the cam 55, when the lever 46 is moved laterally, as hereinafter described, to bring the arm 50 in position to engage the cam 55. In Fig. 4 the lever 46 is shown in its lowermost position, engaging the cam cylinder 5| between the cams 53 and 55, which is the position occupied by the lever when the thread feed fingers 26 and 25 are in one of their extreme positions, indicated in Figs. 5 and 7 for example. When the lever 46 is shifted to the right in Fig. 6, so as to bring the longer arm 58 into alignment with the cam 55, the lever 46 will be raised, thereby elevating the lever 39 and connected parts and shifting the thread feed fingers into their opposite extreme positions respectively. If, however, the lever 46 is shifted in the opposite direction, the shorter arm 50a will engage the inclined shoulder 54 and raise the lever 46, so as to permit the short arm 50a to ride on the circular periph ery of cam 53. This arm 56a is sufliciently shorter-than the arm' 50, so that the lever 46 will not be raised to the same extent that it 'is raised by the cam 55, but is raised sufilciently to operate the lever 39 so as to bring the thread feed fingers 20 and 25 into alignment, at which time the shafts l4 and I5 willbe oscillated to throw these fingers to the interior of the cylinder, as indicated in Fig. 11, where they will be out of the way of the raised needles during the reciprocating movement said shorter arm 56a and elevating it to the top 58 is connected by a vertical link 60 with an arm' 6| on a horizontal shaft 62, extending across the back of the machine (see Fig. 3) and provided with an arm 63 at its opposite end connected by a link 64 (see Fig. 2) with one arm 65a of a lever 65 pivotally secured to the machine frame and extending across the left side of the machine,

andprovided with an arm 65b, the outer end of which is provided with a projection 65c to engage a cam 66 on the pattern shaft 85a of the machine, and held in engagement therewith by a spring 6241 engaging an arm 62b on the cross shaft 62. This cam 66 is a pattern cam and is provided with peripheral portions extending to different distances from the axis of the shaft 850 so as to shift the lever 46 to and hold it in one or other of its three positions with respect to the cam cylinder 5|, and thereby effect the proper longitudinal movements of the shafts I4 and I5 in the manner previously described.

The oscillatory movements of the shafts I4 and I5 are effected at the proper time, as during the knitting of the heel and toe pockets, by the following means (see particularly Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). As best seen in Fig. 5, the shaft I4 is provided with a crank arm 68 secured thereto and provided with a crank pin 69 which loosely engages an aperture in a link 10, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm II of a bell crank pivotally mounted on the latch ring and having a downwardly inclined arm I2. The shaft I5 is provided with a similar crank arm I3 provided with a crank pin I4 loosely engaging an aperture in a link I5, the opposite end of which is connected to the upwardly extending arm I6 of a bellcrank coaxial with the previously mentioned bellcrank and likewise having a downwardly extending arm 11 (see Fig. 4). It will be seen that by elevating the arms 72, 11, the auxiliary thread feed finger carrying shafts I4, I5 will be simultaneously rocked in a direction to throw the thread feed fingers 20 and inwardly toward the center of the needle circle and this actuation of the fingers will of course take place when the needles at that part of the cylinder are down in their lowest position so as to permit the thread feed fingers to pass over the tops of the needles both in swinging inwardly and later swinging outwardly to their normal positions.

Each of the shafts [4, I5 is held in its normal position with the corresponding fingers outside of the needle circle by retracting springs 18 and I 19, secured at their outer ends to a stationary part connected with the shaft I0a (see Fig. 7), the inner end of the spring 18 being connected to a stud 80 secured to the collar on shaft I4, and the spring 19 being connected in like manner to a collar 8| on the shaft I5. Suitable stops are pro vided for limiting the movement of the shafts I4, I5 in a rotary direction, which in this instance is a stationary arm 82 secured to the latch ring and adapted to be engaged by the pin 80 for limitingthe movement of shaft I4, and a similar stationary arm 83 having a part to be engaged by a pin 84 on the collar BI and limiting the rotary movement of the shaft I5 under the influence of its spring. It will be understood that the movement imparted to the crank pins 69and I4 will be in the opposite direction from that in which the shafts are drawn up by their springs, and will carry the stop pins 80 and 84 away from the fixed stop arms 82 and 83 respectively.

The desired rocking movements are imparted to the finger carrying shafts I4, I5 by a pattern drum 85 on shaft 85a (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 particularly) which is provided with a raised cam grade 86 of suitable extent for maintaining the auxiliary fingers 20 and 25 in the position shown in Fig. 5 during the knitting of the high splice, provided with a low portion, indicated at 81, opera tive during the knitting of the heel, and followed by a second high portion 88, operative during the knitting ofthe foot, again followed by a low portion 89 operative during the knitting of the toe pocket, and continuing through the leg. This cam engages a projection on the arm 90 of a centrally pivoted lever 9| extending across the lefthand side of the machine frame, and having an opposite arm 92 provided with a spring 93 for holding the projection on the arm 90 in contact with the cam drum 85. The arm 92 is connected by a link 94 with an arm 95 on a transverse shaft 96 provided with an arm 91 connected by another link 98 connected to an arm 99 on a shaft I00, which in this instance is provided with a-pair of arms I 0i which are in turn connected by a pair of links I02 with a pair of arms I03 of bellcrank levers, each having an upwardly extending arm' I04 carrying a friction roll I05 which engage the lower edges of the arms I2 and Ti connected with the crank pins 69 and 14, for oscillating the finger carrying shafts I4, I5.

It will be seen that whenever the projection on the arm 90 (Fig. 4) is on either the cam 86 or the cam 88, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 5 with the auxiliary thread feed fingers on the outside of the needle circle. Whenever the projection on the arm 90 passes off of the cam 86 or cam 88, the shafts I4, I5 will be rocked against the action oftheir springs 18, I9 to throw the auxiliary thread feed fingers to the inside of the needle circle, as indicated in Fig. 11. The said fingers will at that time have been brought into radial alignment with respect to the cylinder by the positioning of lever 46 by the cam cylinder 5| between the cam portions thereof, as previously described.

The operation of the machinev in making a plated sock will now be briefly described, and for this purpose it will be understood that the top of the sock will be the usual 1 x 1 rib top made on a 1 x 1 rib knitting machine and transferred to the needles of the machine under consideration, in the usual manner. It is, however, to be understood that the top of the sock might be formed integral therewith of plain knitting and reinforced with elastic thread if desired, although this forms no part of the present invention.

In threading the machine preparatory to knitting, one of the main thread feed fingers, in this instance the one indicated at 6 (see Fig. 7) is provided with two thread feed apertures which will be supplied. with the face thread 1 and the backing thread b, respectively, the face thread being delivered through the outermost eye and under con It will be assumed, for the purpose of this description, that the heel and toe pockets will be knit with a heavier thread which may be delivered bythe main thread feed finger 5 and the main feed finger B will be supplied with a different thread if desired, for use in knitting thesole of the sock. Obviously the selection of thread forthese purposes may be varied according to the type of stocking to be knit. It will also be understood that the auxiliary knitting cam will bedrawn outwardly to its inoperative position in the usual manner.

The stocking top, indicated at t in Fig. 15, having been applied to the needles, it is customary to knit a few courses to form what is known as the ring top, following the last course of the top, as indicated at rt in said figure, before knitting the leg, although this is not necessary. In this instance a single thread, as the sole thread, will be fed by throwing the main thread finger 4 into operative position, and the machine is started knitting circular work. After a plurality of rounds to form the ring top have been knit, the finger 5 will be thrown out of operative position and the duplex feed finger 6 thrown into operative position to feed the face and backing threads simultaneously to the needles, in plated relation, to form the leg I (Fig. 15) and circular knitting will be continued down to the point indicated by dotted line I06, lflfix, at which point it is desired to knit the high splice at the rear of the leg and to continue to knit with the face and backing threads on the front of the leg. It is customary to reinforce the high splice portion of the leg above the heel, indicated at hs in Fig. 15, and this may be done by adding a splicing thread, or by substituting a heavier thread orthreads as may be desired. If it is intended to knit the high splice by merely adding a splicing or reinforcing thread, the main feed-finger 6 will be continued in its operative position and a separate main feed finger 1, for example, for feeding a splicing thread will be thrown into operative position. At this point also the pattern mechanism will shift the'drive mechanism for the cylinder so as to produce reciprocatory movement thereof, in the usual manner,

and the auxiliary knitting cam will be thrown into position to operate the long butt needles while the short buttneedles will be operated by the main knitting cam, as usual. During the reciprocating operation of the machine, therefore, the high splice portion, indicated at he in Fig. 15, will be knit with three threads fed to the short butt needles by the feed fingers 5 and I at the main throat, while the corresponding courses of the front portion of. the leg, indicated at fhs, will be knit by the face and backing threads I and b, fed to the long butt needles by the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20 and 25, the usual suture seam ss being formed at opposite sides of the machine. This reciprocating knitting will proceed until the point indicated by the dotted line ll,- I011: is reached.

During the knitting of the high splice it will be understood that at each reciprocation of the machine, the shafts M and I carrying the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20 and 25 will be shifted at the termination of the movement of the cylinder in each direction, from the positions shown in Fig. 8 to the positions shown in Fig. 9, and vice versa, in the manner previously described,--the operating mechanism therefor being brought into operation by pattern cam mechanism in any usual or preferred way. The high splice, hs, itself will be knit with the three threads fed at the main throat, which may somewhat disturb the relations of the face and backing threads in one direction of movement of the cylinder, but this will not be objectionable in that portion of the sock, as the high splice is largely covered by the shoe or slipper when the sock is worn.

The disturbed plating in this area can be minimized by having little or no tension on the third yarn, which is the splicing yarn, which should remain on the inside of the fabric, with a wsmall amount oftension on the normal backing yarn and a large amount of tension on the face yarn.

In some instances it may be found desirable to throw the main feed finger 5 out of operative position at the commencement of the high splice,

and to provide for feeding a heavier thread or threads in the high splice, in which case the sole thread, for example, might be used by throwing the main feed finger 4 into operative position, or two separate threads maybe fed to the short butt needles by the main feed finger I, if 'desired, these details being left to the option of the knitter.

After the point indicated by the .dotted line I01, The, Fig. 15, is reached, the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20, 25, are brought into alignment radially with respect to the cylinder, as before described, by the shifting of the lever to the left in Fig. 6, so as to bring its short arm a to the outer surface of the cam 53, at which time the shafts l4, I! will be simultaneously rocked in a, direction to throw the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20, 25 from their normal positions, indicated in Fig. 10, into the positions indicated in Fig. 11, by means of the mechanism previously described, and under the actuation of the pattern drum 85. as shown in Fig. 4, and the mechanism operated thereby. The knitting of the heel pocket, hp (Fig. 15) will proceed in the usual manner by reciprocating work and narrowing and widening on the shirt butt needles, the stitches being held on the long butt needles as usual, until the completion of the heel pocket, indicated by the dotted line I111, I012. In knitting the heel, which usually requires a. heavier thread, the thread feed fingers 6 and 1 (or 4 as the case may be) which feed the thread to the short butt needles in knitting the high splice,

finger 5 will be thrownout of operative position a and the feed finger 4 for the sole threadwill be thrown into operative position to feed the short butt .needles, while the long butt needles will receive the face and backing threads 1 and b from the auxiliary thread guides 20 and 25, as in knitting the high splice portion of the sock and forming the suture seam ss at opposite sides of the foot. In Fig. 15, 3 represents the sole portion knit with the sole thread and if represents the top of the foot, which is knit with the threads 1 and b in plating relation. The foot is knit in this manner down to the point indicated by the dotted line I08, I081 At'this point the threads f and b fed by the auxiliary thread guides 20, 25 are cut and bound in the usual manner, after said guides are moved to an inoperative position.

At this point it is customary to knit what is termed a toe band by circular knitting. The toe band, indicated at tb in Fig. 15, is then knit by circular knitting and at this ,time the auxiliary knitting cam is withdrawn into inoperative position, circular work is resumed, all under the control of the pattern mechanism, and a number of courses are knit, preferably with the sole thread delivered to all the needles by the main feed finger 6, until the point indicated by dotted line I09, i092: is reached. At this-point the machine is shifted to reciprocating work for the production of the toe pocket, indicated at to in Fig. 15.

The main feed finger [is thrown out of opera It will be seen from the foregoing description that the entire leg I of the stocking, together with the angle portion, fhs, forward of the high splice, and the instep or top of the foot, indicated at if, will have a perfectly uniform appearance by reason of the fact that the part fhs forward of the high splice and top of the split foot, while knit by reciprocating work have the face and backing threads fed in exactly the same relation during reciprocating work, by the reversible feed fingers 20, 25, as the face and backing threads are fed throughout the knitting of the leg by the main thread feed finger 6. At the same time the high splice portion is reinforced, the sole of the sock, as well as the heel and-toe pockets, are knit with heavier and less expensive yarns, so that the resulting sock, while presenting the fine appearance through the leg, ankle, instep and top of the foot produced by the presence of particularly fine and high priced face yarns, can be produced with great economy. It will be understood that the face and backing threads throughout the plated portion of the sock will ordinarily be of different colors, or of different materials, as silk over lisle, or they may be different both in color and material, the face thread to the point indicated by the dotted line I06.

' IIIIix, by circular work, where the face threads are to be delivered to the long butt needles from the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20, 25, it is particularly desirable that the face and backing threads should be delivered under exactly the same tension that the. face and backing threads.

were delivered from the main thread feed finger 6 during the circular work. In order, therefore, that there shall be no slack between the clamp and cutter holding the auxiliary face and backing threads from the time they are clamped just before the formation of the toe band of one sock until the point indicated by the dotted line I05, IIlSa: of the next succeeding sock is reached, it is preferred to provide a locking means for the face thread, particularly so that the instant it is introduced in the next succeeding sock, it will be fed from the auxiliary feed finger 20 at precisely the same tension as the corresponding face thread in the upper part of the leg. In Fig. 14, there is shownone form of tension device for the face thread, indicated at ,f. This device is of usual construction and comprises a pair of plates or discs, III), III], mounted on a stud H4, secured to a bracket II and held by a spring III, the tension of which can be adjusted by a nut II2 on the threaded portion of the stud I I4, said nut being secured in adjusted position by a set screw II3. In this instance there is shown a locking lever I I6, pivoted at H! to a part connected with the bracket H5, this lever having a locking arm II8 adapted to engage one of the plates III] and press it toward the .other, so as to firmly clamp the face thread or yarn 1 between said plates, and thereby lock it against feeding between the tension plates. For operating the locking device, there is provided a cam drum I20 on a jack shaft H9, suitably mounted on the machine and rotating one revolution for each sock from the commenceinent of the leg .to the completion of the The cam drum I20 is provided with toe pocket. a cam I 2I of sufiicient length to correspond with the knitting of one sock from the point indicated by the dotted line I08, I082: at the beginning of the toe band, to the point indicated by the dotted line I06, IIIGa: of the next succeeding sock, during which time it engages a projection I22 on a lever I23 which is connected by suitable linkage, indicated at I24, with the locking lever I I6, and during this period the face thread 7 remains locked in its tension device.

It follows, therefore, that in knitting each sock when the point indicated by the dotted line I06, I 06.1: is reached, the projection I22 will be moved offof the cam I 2| by rotation of the drum I 20, at which time the feeding of the auxiliary face thread I by the auxiliary feed finger 20 will commence, and it will thus be fed at once at the required tension without having its tension relieved by vibration of the thread or of the machine, or otherwise, which would make a defect at that point in the sock.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is-shown a slight modification of the apparatus for driving the mechanism hereinbefore described, by which the auxiliary feed fingers are shifted longitudinally and are oscillated to throw them into and out of operative position with respect tothe needle cylindei'. In this instance the main pattern cam shaft 85a instead of actuating-the reciprocating and oscillating mechanism in the manner previously described, is provided with a sprocket wheel I25,

connected by a chain I28 with a sprocket wheel I21 on a jack shaft which may be the same Jack shaft IIS previously referred to and which is provided with the cam drum I29 and locking cam I 2i, and. cam engaging lever I23, previously described. This jack shaft also carries a cam drum I28 provided with a cam I85 operating a vertically movable pivoted arm I29 for operating the vertically movable arm 98 in an upward direction, it being drawn downwardly by the spring 93 in the opposite direction and operating the oscillating mechanism for the shafts I6, I5 previously described (see particularly Fig. 4)

In this instance the cam drum I28 is also provided with a cam I68, corresponding with the cam 66 shown in Figs. 2 and 6, for effecting the longitudinal movements of the shafts Id and I5 carrying the auxiliary thread feed fingers 20 and 25. This cam is engaged by a projection I650 on a pivoted lever I65, to which is connected, in this instance, the arm 60 which is connected at its upper end with the bellcrank 58 carrying the yoke 51 which shifts laterally the lever 46 carrying the arms 50 and 58a which engage the cams 53 and 55 on the cam drum 5I, as shown in Fig. 6 and previously described, to simultaneously shift the auxiliary thread feed fingers longitudinally at the ends of the reciprocatory movements of the cylinder and also bring the auxiliary fingers into radial alignment with respect to the cylinder when they are rocked by the arm I29 and rod 98 to throw the auxiliary feed fingers to the inside of the cylinder during the knitting of the heel and toe pockets, as previously described.

In other words, the construction shown in Figs. 12 and 13 illustrates a different and more direct means of obtaining the necessary movements of the parts illustrated in the other figures previously described, but involves no change in the operation of the machine from that previously described.

In the apparatus as previously described, the reciprocating and oscillating auxiliary thread feed fingers for face and backing threads have been shown as located on the latch ring, which has been found to be a convenient arrangement. As constructed it does not interfere with'the raising of the latchring on its pivot shaft Ill when desired, as for the purpose ofplacing a ribtop in engagement with the needles, or for other purposes. As the latch ring is raised the bellcrank arm I2, which effects the oscillatory movement of the shafts I4 and I5, and which rests upon the friction rollers I85 carried by the arms I 84, will simply lift off of the rollers I05 and will return .to normal position when the latch ring is restored to operative position. The oppositely'disposed bellcranks 28 and BI which effect the reciprocation of the shafts I4 and I5 are mounted on the extension Illa of the shaft I0, and their point of pivoting is thereforecoaxial with the pivotal connection of the latch ring. When the latch '43 which crosses the link 42, the slot 3a permitting the upward movement of the link under these conditions. In this-manner the latch ring can be raised and restored to operative position without disturbing the auxiliary feed fingers or their supporting shafts.

The auxiliary thread feed fingers are shown and have been previously described as operating in connection with the auxiliary knitting wave produced by the auxiliary knitting cam at the:

opposite side of the machine from the main knitting cam. It is to be understood, however, that by suitable adjustments of the pattern mechanism, the auxiliary feed fingers might be located adjacent to the main knitting cam and on the opposite side of the latch ring, as indicated at the right in Fig. 7a, and in some instances the auxiliary feed fingers and their opcrating mechanisms may be duplioatedon 0pposite sides of the cylinder, as indicated in this figure. With auxiliary thread feed fingers located adjacent to the main knitting cams and the cams adjacent thereto which operate on the short butt needles during reciprocating work and narrowing and widening, it is possible to plate either the heel or toe, or both, or any particular portions thereof, and where the auxiliary thread feed fingers are duplicated, as indicated in Fig. 7a, this may be done in addition to the plating operations previously described.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A circular split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams, normally 10- cated in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, and means for shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of'its reciprocations to reversethe positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work.

2. -A circular split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams, normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work, and means for oscillating said shafts to move said fingers into and out of operative position with respect to the needles.

3. A circular split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the othero'f said sets of knitting cams, normally located in relation to each other to. feed a'face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for shifting said shafts longitudinallyin opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of its reclprocations to reverse-the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work, and for bringing said fingers into alignment. radially of the needle cylinder of the machine, and means for oscillating said shafts to move said fingers into inoperative position within the circular, series of nee- I dies and for returning them from said position.

4. A circular split work knitting machine having main and auxiliary sets of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets ofknitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, and means for simultaneously shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting v of split work.

5. A circular split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for simultaneously shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work, and means for oscillating said shafts to move said fingers into and out of operative position with respect to the needles.

6. A circular split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams, normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movementof the needle cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work, and means for simultaneously oscillating said shafts to move said fingers into and out of operative position with respect to the needles.

7. A circular-split work knitting machine having a main set of knitting cams, an auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the other of said sets of knitting cams normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for simultaneously, shifting said shafts longitudinally inopposite directions at the end of the movement of the needlecylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during theknitting of split work, and for bringing said fingers into alignment radially'with respect to the needle cylinder, and means for simultaneously oscillating said shafts to move said fingers into inoperative feeding face and backing threads in plating re- .cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating position within the circular series of needles and for returning them from said position.

8. In a circular split work knitting machine provided with a cylinder and a circular series of. independently operable needles, main and aux- 5 iliary knitting cams, means adjacent to the main knitting cams for feeding face and backing threads in plating relation during circular work, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable shafts adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, an auxiliary thread feed finger carried by each of said shafts for feeding a face and backing thread respectively, and actuating means for simultaneously shifting said shafts in opposite directions to reverse the relative positions of said auxiliary thread feed fingers at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating movements during the knitting of split work.

9. In a circular split work knitting machine provided with a cylinder and a circular series of independently operable needles, certain consecutive needles being provided with long knitting butts and the remaining needles provided with short knitting butts, a set of main knitting cams, a set of auxiliary knitting cams movable into and out of operative position and constructed to operate the long butt needles, main thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams for lation during circular work, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable shafts-adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, an auxiliary thread feed finger carried by each of said shafts for feeding a face and backing thread respectively during the knitting of split work, actuating means for simulta-. neously shifting said shafts in opposite directions to reverse the relative positions of said auxiliary feed fingers at the end of the movement of the 40 movements during the knitting of split work,

means for causing the cylinder to reciprocate to form split work above the heel of the stocking,

and a thread feed finger for feeding a splicing thread to the short butt needles only adjacent 45 to the main knitting cams to reinforce the high splice portion of the stocking.

10. In a circular split work knitting machine provided with a cylinder and a circular series of independently operable needles, certain consecutive needles being provided with long knitting butts and the remaining needles provided with short knittingbutts, a set of main knitting cams, a set of auxiliary knitting cams movable into and out of operative position and constructed to 5 operate the long butt needles, main thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams for feeding face and backing threads in plating relation during circular work, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable shafts adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, an auxiliary thread feed finger carried by each of said shafts for feeding a face and backing thread respectively during the knittingof split work, actuating means for simultaneously shifting said shafts in opposite directions to reverse the relative positions of said auxiliary feed fingers at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating movements during the knitting of split work, means for causing the cylinder to recprocate during the formation of the foot of the stocking, means for throwing out of operation said main thread feeding means and bringing into operation a thread feed finger for a sole thread during the knitting of split work.

11. In a circular split work knitting machine provided with a cylinder and a circular series of independently operable needles, certain consecutive needles being provided with long knitting butts and the remaining needles provided with short knitting butts, a set of main knitting cams,

a, set of auxiliary knitting cams movable into and out of operative position and constructedto operate the long butt needles, main thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams for feeding face and backing threads in plating relation during circular work, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable shafts adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, an auxiliary thread feed finger carried by each of said shafts for feeding a face and backing thread respectively during the knitsplice portion of. the stocking, heel and toe thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams, means for partially rotating said shafts to move the auxiliary feed fingers out of operative position, means for simultaneously moving the said mainthread feed finger means out of operative position and said heel and toe thread feed means into operative position to knit the heel by narrowing and widening, means for partially rotating said shafts to return the auxiliary feed fingers to operative position at the conclusion of the formation of the heel, sole thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams, and

means for moving said sole thread feeding means into operation and the heel thread feeding means out of operative position to form the sole by split work.

12. In a circular split work knitting machine provided with a cylinder and a circular series of independently operable needles, certain consec-- utive needles being provided with long knitting butts and the remaining needles provided with short knitting butts, a set of main knitting cams,

a set of auxiliary knitting cams movable into and out of operative position and constructed to operate the long butt needles, main thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams for feeding face and backing threads in plating relation during circular work, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable shafts adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, an auxiliary thread feed' finger carried by each of said shafts for feeding a. face and backing thread respectively during the knitting of split work, actuating means for simultaneously shifting said shafts in-opposite directions to reverse the relative positions ofsaid auxiliary feed fingers at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating movements during the knitting of split work, means for causing the cylinder to reciprocate to form split work above the heel of the stocking, and a thread feed finger for feeding a splicing thread to the shirt butt needles only adjacent to the main knitting cams to reinforce the high splice portion of the stocking,

' heel and toe thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams, means for partially'rotating said shafts to move the auxiliary feed fingers out of operative position, means for simultaneously moving the said main thread feed finger means out of operative position and said heel and toe thread feed means into operativeposition to knit the heel by narrowing and widening, means for partially rotating said shafts to return v.the auxiliary feed fingers to operative position at theconclusion of the formation of the heel, sole thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams, and means for moving said sole thread feeding means into operation and the heel thread feeding means out of operative position to form the sole by split work, means for discontinuing the feeding of plating threads from the auxiliary feed fingers, and means for causing the cylinder to rotate to form the toe band by circular knitting with the sole thread.

13. In a circular split work knitting machine having a cylinder, a series of independently opmeans adjacent to one of said sets of knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an I with said -bellcranks for simultaneously moving said shafts in opposite directions and reversing the auxiliary feed fingers, and means brought into operation at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations during the knitting of split work for operating the arm j 14. In a circular split work knitting machine having a cylinder, a series of independently operable needles, a set of main knitting cams, an

auxiliary set of knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to the main sets of knitting cams for feeding a face and backing thread in plating relation; a pivotally mounted latch ring, a pair of longitudinally reciprocable and partially rotatable shafts mounted on the latch ring. each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, said feed fingers being located normally in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, oppositely disposed bellcranks, a supporting pivot therefor coaxial with the pivotal connection of the latch ring, an actuating arm, mounted on a stationary pivot, links connecting said arm with saidbellcranks, one of said links being provided with a lost motion connection, an operating cam, an operating arm adapted to be moved by said cam connected with said actuating arm but capable of movement away from said cam, the movement of said actuating arm simultaneously shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions and reversing the auxiliary feed fingers, means for oscillating said shafts, cam actuated devices for actuating said means but separable therefrom,

immediately connected thereto.

15. A circular split work knitting machine having a cylinder, a series of independently operable needles, main and auxiliary knitting cams, thread feeding .means adjacent to the main knittingv cams, a pair of.longitudlnally reciprocable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an in relation to each other to feed a face and backauxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, said fingers being normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for simultaneously shifting said shafts in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating movement during the knitting of split work, including bellcranks operatively connected with. said shafts, an actuating arm connected with said bellcranks and provided with an operating arm, a laterally movable lever for engaging said operating arm, a cam drum operated by the pattern mechanism of the machine in timed relation with the cylinder provided with laterally disposed cams for respectively effecting the operation of said operating arm in one direction to shift the auxiliary thread guide and effecting the operation of said arm to bring the said auxiliary thread guides into radial alignment with respect to the cylinder, a laterally shiftable lever interposed between saidcam drum and said operating arm, pattern controlled means for shifting said arm into engagement with one or other of said cams, and pattern controlled means for partially rotating said shafts simultaneously when in-radially aligned position to move the auxiliary feed fingers into inoperative position.

- 16. A circular split work knitting machine having a cylinder, a series of independently operable needles, main and auxiliary knitting cams, thread feeding means adjacent to the main knitting cams, a pair of longitudinally and partially rotatable shafts each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams, said fingers being normally located ing thread in proper plating relation, means for simultaneously shifting said shafts in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the cylinder in each direction of its reciprocating movement during the knitting of split work and for moving said shafts in opposite directions to bring them into alignment radially with respect to the cylinder, crank arms secured to said shafts provided with crank pins, bellcranks having arms cent to the main'knitting cams for feeding a face and backing thread in plating relation, a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts, each provided with an auxiliary thread feed finger adjacent to the auxiliary knitting cams normally located in relation to each other to feed a face and backing thread in proper plating relation, means for simultaneously shifting said shafts longitudinally in opposite directions at the end of the movement of the needle cylinder in each direction of its reciprocations to reverse the positions of said auxiliary feed fingers during the knitting of split work, means for moving said feed fingers into and holding them in inoperative relation during the knitting of circular work and heel and toe pockets, a clamp for clamping the face thread fed by one of said auxiliary feed fingers, and means for bringing said clamp into operation during the inoperative position of said feed finger.

18. In a split work knitting machine having main and auxiliary knitting cams, auxiliary thread feeding mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided .with a thread feed finger,-

springs normally holding said thread feed fingers in the proper relative positions to feed a face and backing thread respectively, and. pattern controlled mechanism for moving said shafts in opposite directions at the end of each movement of the cylinder in one direction of its reciprocating movements during the knitting of split work;

19. In a split work knitting machine having main and auxiliary knitting cams, auxiliary thread feeding mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with a thread feed finger, springs normally holding said thread feed fingers in the proper relative positions to feed a face and backing thread respectively, and pattern controlled mechanism for moving said shafts in opposite directions at the end of each movement of the cylinder in one direction of its reciprocating movements during the knitting of split work, springs acting on said shafts for moving them in a rotary direction, stops holding said shafts against the action of said springs in operative position, and pattern controlled means for partially rotating said shafts to throw said auxiliary thread feed fingers out of operative position during the knitting of heel and toe pockets.

20. In a split work knitting machine having main and auxiliary knitting cams, auxiliary thread feeding mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinally movable and partially rotatable shafts each provided with a thread feed finger, springs normally holding said thread feed fingers in the proper relative positions to feed a face and backing thread respectively, and pattern controlled mechanism for moving said shafts in opposite directions at the end of each movement of the cylinder in one direction of its reciprocating ments during the knitting of split work and formoving said shafts in opposite directions to bring the auxiliary feed fingers into coaxial alignment with respect to the cylinder and pattern controlled mechanism for rocking said shafts to move said aligned auxiliary feed fingers toward the interior of the cylinder into inoperative position during the knitting of heel and toe pockets.

PAUL L. THURSTON. HARRISON F. HILKER 

